Strings Attached
1191 Words
Skylar POV
It was raining in my eyes. I stepped into the slum, dragging my feet toward our apartment.
We lived in a tenement slum house called Trinity, a dilapidated seven-story building.
Our apartment was on the fourth floor. Clothes hung from the walls, clustered around every window, while plastic nylons covered the cracks in the doors and windows.
The stench of the building welcomed me home, filling my nose with unease.
The fans were all broken, and we hardly ever saw an agent to properly complain to.
The moment Mama's eyes met mine, I knew she wasn't in any state to receive bad news, so I collapsed into a chair, gasping for air.
"What happened, baby? Is everything alright with your father?" Mama questioned in a panic.
Just then, her phone rang.
"Hola!" she answered, raising her voice.
"This is Mavic Tower Central Clinic. I am Doctor Henry."
"Hi Henry. How is my husband?"
"Well, I have good news and bad news."
"Start with the bad," Mama replied almost immediately.
"Your husband's condition has gotten worse. Surgery might be needed to salvage the situation..."
The doctor continued explaining Papa's condition in medical terms until my mother abruptly cut him off.
"I don't understand all these medical terms. Just tell me the good news!"
The doctor sighed on the other end before clearing his throat.
"One Mason Knight from Westminster Prep Academy has cleared the entire hospital bill and even paid for the surgery, leaving a balance of over one thousand dollars."
"He said your daughter should contact him, as they have unfinished business to handle."
My mother's phone slipped from her hand onto the couch as she stared at me with a mixture of surprise and horror.
I had heard the conversation on speakerphone.
And I was just as confused as to why Mason Knight would pay such a huge amount.
"What have you done?" Mama questioned in amazement.
She wasn't the kind of woman who jumped at every opportunity.
She knew every action had consequences, and every act of kindness required a commensurate payment.
"Baby, you have to return the money."
"But Dad is going to die without it."
"We have to find another way around this. I can't let you willingly become a slave to one of those rich folks."
She paused and stared directly into my eyes.
"You are a genius, Skylar. Top of your class since sixth grade. You've won the scholarship for Westminster Prep so many times."
"Don't let this moment of weakness derail you."
Her words were intense and nourishing, and right there, I made a firm decision.
I must soar higher, above everyone.
In the cold of this winter snow, though I weep and groan in pain, my soul must thrive.
I'll make it big one day, either by hook or by crook.
I couldn't allow Mason and his minions to control me by throwing money at me like I was some peasant dog.
As I sat deep in thought, reflecting on my goals and ambitions...
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Our metal door burst open as the housing agent stormed into the apartment and grabbed my mother's arm aggressively.
"It's been three months, woman! Get your things ready before tomorrow. Someone else will be taking this place!"
His mouth reeked of alcohol and cheap cigarettes.
At that moment, I knew returning Mason's money was impossible.
"Get your hands off my mum. I'll have your money by midnight!" I barked.
Mom stared at me helplessly as the agent licked his lips.
"Perhaps we can work something out." He stepped toward me and reached out, gently caressing my hair.
Gbam! I gave him a loud slap. "Don't you ever lay your filthy hands on me," I warned aggressively.
He frowned in annoyance.
"Tomorrow you'll be out on the streets of Mavic. Let's see how proud you are when you're forced to kowtow and beg for my mercy!"
He immediately stormed out of the apartment.
Mom burst into tears as I wrapped my arms around her and comforted her.
............
That night, I paid the rent and barely got any before the alarm blared, jolting me awake.
It was time for school and I was going to face Mason.
Trekking to school, I jogged through the darkness, ignoring the corners of the slum where dim lights revealed dens of thieves and places reserved for ungodly practices.
One wrong move and I would be the one lying in a hospital bed, fighting for my life.
This was what I faced every day, yet the moment I stepped into school, most of these kids assumed I had it easy.
First in class, Perfect grades, Three-time art competition winner.
Nobody knew the depth of my struggles.
I stepped through the gates of Westminster Prep, and immediately Chloe attacked me with questions.
"What the hell happened last night?"
"How do you mean?" I turned to her in panic.
I didn't know if Mason had blabbed a thing or two about my father's pitiable situation or exposed our terrible living conditions.
I didn't even know how serious his injuries had become or when he had left the hospital.
I had only stayed long enough to sort out the rent.
"Sky! Sky!" Chloe snapped her fingers in front of my face, jolting me from my thoughts.
"You said you would use your home phone to give me AOB for today's test, but you didn't."
"Oh, that. I couldn't even read at home. I had a family emergency, girl."
"What emergency, Sky? I'm going to fail!"
"Are you girls done with your chit-chat? Step in and get seated. Let's get ready for the test today," Mr. Steffan beckoned hastily.
The moment the papers landed on Chloe's desk, her eyes turned teary.
I hadn't studied last night either, yet the second I glanced at the questions, memories of previous studies flooded my mind, and I practically knew every answer.
I smiled apologetically at her before turning to my paper and immersing myself in the test.
For some reason, though, out of thirty objective questions, I was only on question twenty-eight when Mr. Steffan collected my paper.
I hadn't finished. Turning to Chloe, she shot me a look of annoyance. An unexplainable feeling washed over me.
I knew our friendship had taken on a darker tone at that moment.
............
Stepping out of class, Hakeem shoved his camera into my face.
"Hi, ma'am. Would you like to give your opinion on the sports event for our reality TV show?" He flashed a hypocritical smile. "I understand there's bad blood between Mason Knight, captain of Westminster's ice hockey team, and..."
"Back off, Hakeem! I'm not ready for this."
I gently pushed the camera aside, unwilling to grant any interviews to a show that would twist my words to push its own narrative.
Just as I turned into the hallway leading to the cafeteria, someone barged into me, shoving me toward a dark corner.
I raised my head and it was Mason again.
"What the hell, Mason? Will you only be satisfied after you've crushed my bones?"
"That's not important right now, Skylar. I need your help…”
- Writer
